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Inzamam and Hair caught in the glare

Inzamam-ul-Haq was greeted with a flurry of flash bulbs when he arrived at The Oval today to defend two charges of breaching the International Cricket Councils Code of Conduct.

The Pakistan captain drove through the Alec Stewart Gate, where the two-day disciplinary hearing is being held, shortly after 9am accompanied by Bob Woolmer, the coach.

Inzamam, 36, is charged with bringing the game into disrepute and changing the condition of the ball during the fourth Test against England last month, which ended in controversy when Pakistan initially refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day.

It resulted in the Test being forfeited for the first time in crickets history and over the next two days Inzamam will attempt to clear his name or face a lengthy ban if found guilty of the two charges.

Ranjan Madugalle, the senior match referee, seemed genuinely surprised by the mass of camera ranks outside the Oval when he walked through the gates shortly after 8.30 this morning as he prepared to chair the hearing.

He was followed 15 minutes later when Billy Doctrove, one of the on-field umpires of the Test, got out of a taxi with Mike Procter, the match referee, and Doug Cowie, the ICCs umpires manager.

Inzamam arrived around ten minutes later when he drove through the gates in a silver car to be followed shortly afterwards by the man at the centre of the controversy, Darrell Hair, the controversial umpire.

The Australian official, blamed by Pakistan for inflaming the situation, walked through the gates but when asked for his thoughts he said: No comment, good to see you all.

The final key member of the hearing to arrive was Mark Gay, the lawyer representing the Pakistan team, who told waiting reporters: Im looking forward to it.

The hearing is expected to last a minimum of two days, after which Madugalle has a maximum of 24 hours to give his verdict.

Inzamam discipline hearing starts

Inzamam discipline hearing starts

Inzamam at the hearing with Hair and Doctrove

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq's disciplinary hearing has started at The Oval in south London.
Inzamam faces ball-tampering and disrepute charges after last month's forfeited Test against England.
Chief ICC referee Ranjan Madugalle is chairing the two-day hearing with a verdict expected on Friday.
Inzamam refused to lead his side out onto the field after being penalised for ball-tampering on day four of the fourth Test on 20 August.
He arrived at The Oval hearing accompanied by coach Bob Woolmer.
Madugalle was the first to arrive at 0830 BST, followed 15 minutes later by umpire Billy Doctrove, who got out of a taxi with match referee Mike Procter and Doug Cowie, the ICC's umpires manager.
Inzamam headed to The Oval just after 0900 BST, just before umpire Darrell Hair turned up in a taxi.
Hair said: "No comment - good to see you all."
After the first day of the hearing, the ICC expects to issue a statement detailing the day's events and an update on when the verdict is likely.
If Inzamam is found guilty of the ball-tampering he faces a fine of between 50 and 100% of his match fee. He could also be banned for one Test or two one-day internationals. Inside I resolved that I had done nothing wrong and was satisfied with my actions [inzimam]

Inzamam-ul-Haq

On the second charge, deemed more serious by the ICC, a ban of between two and four Tests or four to eight ODIs is a possibility.
All four umpires on duty for the game between England and Pakistan will attend the hearing.
Hair and Doctrove were the officials out in the middle, with Peter Hartley and Trevor Jesty providing off the field back-up.
Madugalle will consider testimony and written statements from witnesses, many directly involved with events which culminated in the abandonment of the Test after Pakistan were deemed to have refused to play on after tea on the fourth day.
The three England players involved - Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell - have provided written statements and will not appear in person.
But Oval match referee Mike Procter and ICC umpires and referees manager Doug Cowie, who was at the match on the day in question, will be at the hearing in south London.
Cowie was also the recipient of a subsequent e-mail from Hair, in which he offered to resign in exchange for $500,000 (£263,000).
Pakistan's representatives include coach Woolmer and board chairman Shaharyar Khan as well as Inzamam.
The PCB is expected to call former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott and former player and now analyst Simon Hughes as expert witnesses.
The PCB's legal team will be headed by London-based Mark Gay. Madugalle will be assisted by David Pannick QC. Looking back on his actions, Inzamam told the Guardian: "Definitely, I did feel some pressure. "But inside I resolved that I had done nothing wrong and was satisfied with my actions

Exclusive Inzamam faces an ICC hearing at The Oval

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq's disciplinary hearing has started at The Oval in south London.Inzamam faces ball-tampering and disrepute charges after last month's forfeited Test against England. Chief ICC referee Ranjan Madugalle is chairing the two-day hearing with a verdict expected on Friday.

The Oval, September 27

The main men: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Darrell Hair prepare for the ICC hearing

Ranjan Madugalle arrives for the ICC hearing involving Inzamam-ul-Haq

Darrell Hair arrives to give evidence to the ICC hearing, The Oval

Billy Doctrobe arrives for the ICC hearing,

Ranjan Madugalle and David Pannick QC prepare for the hearing, The Oval,

______________________________Fourth Test controversy timelineAug 201334 Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove examine the match ball after an Umar Gul over on the fourth day of the fourth Test at The Oval. Hair, believing the condition of the ball to have been unfairly altered, signals to the scorers that Pakistan will be penalised five runs. Ball is changed.1543 Hair and Doctrove, and not out England batsmen Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell, return to the field after tea but there's no sign of Pakistan team. Officials and batsmen return to pavilion.1554 Umpires and batsmen return to field, but still no Pakistan team. Bails are removed and the covers come on.1619 Match referee Mike Procter, chairman of the ECB David Morgan and Pakistan counterpart Shaharyar Khan seen in deep discussions on balcony.1624 Inzamam leads Pakistan team back onto the field, but now there is no sign of the umpires. Talks did not involve the umpires who insist that the original Pakistan no-show after tea means the match has been conceded.1713 Play called off for the day.2110 Test abandoned after Pakistan deemed to have forfeited match. England declared winners and take series 3-0. It is the first forfeit in 129 years of Test history. Aug 21
Inzamam says he kept his team off the field to defend his country's pride after allegations of cheating. Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, and team manager Zaheer Abbas both insist their side had not been guilty of ball-tampering. Inzamam is charged with ball tampering and bringing the game into disrepute by ICC. Meanwhile, the PCB says it no longer wants Hair to officiate in any of its team's matches. Aug 22
Inzamam warns cricket chiefs: Clear me of ball tampering or the tour of England is finished. British newspapers report that England coach Duncan Fletcher visited Procter's room before the start of the fourth day's play. English officials insist no "specific complaint" about the ball was made. Aug 23
ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed insists Pakistan would have no right of veto over the appointment of Hair for future Tests. Zaheer confirms the team's upcoming one-day series against England will go ahead after a disciplinary hearing involving captain Inzamam was postponed due to the unavailability of ICC chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle. Speed on his way to London to help broker a deal that could keep Pakistan's tour of England on track. Hair says he stands by his decision and wants to continue umpiring. Aug 24
ECB makes contingency plan for England to play a World XI in the event Pakistan pull out of the upcoming one-day series. Aug 25
ICC announce that Hair offered his resignation in return for a payment of 500,000 dollars. Speaking at a news conference in London, Speed says: "Hair was under great stress when he wrote these letters. Darrell had no dishonest, underhand or malicious intent. He was seeking a solution." Aug 26
ICC sets Inzamam hearing provisionally for last week of September. Aug 27
Hair says he received "encouragement" to make his resignation offer from ICC umpires and referees manager Doug Cowie. ICC say discussions were merely "informal". Sept 4
Speed warns Pakistan and Inzamam against making any further "inappropriate" public comments ahead of the hearing saying they risk further charges under the ICC code of conduct. Sept 25
ICC confirm that Inzamam will answer charges at a two-day hearing in front of Madugalle starting at The Oval, starting on Wednesday September 27. Inzamam, Hair, Doctrove and Procter are among those set to attend with a decision due Friday local time. Sept 27 ICC Code of Conduct hearing starts at The Oval
______________________________Crime and PunishmentInzamam is facing two charges, of ball-tampering and of bringing the game into disrepute. The former is on behalf of the team; no individual or specific incident of tampering has been highlighted so as captain, Inzamam faces the heat. If found guilty, he faces a fine of between 50 and 100% of his match fee and/or a ban of one Test or two ODIs. The latter charge, of bringing the game into disrepute as a result of not leading his team out to play, is potentially more serious. Again, as captain of a side that refused to play, Inzamam is in the dock and if found guilty, he faces a ban of between two and four Tests or four to eight ODIs.Evidence m'lord
The PCB has claimed from the very beginning that there is no proof that ball-tampering occurred, that nothing has been captured on video and no single person caught. This, of course, overlooks conveniently that no evidence other than the ball itself and the umpires' words is needed. Forensic tests on the ball to determine tampering has been suggested while those who have seen the ball - journalists and Pakistan officials - claim that there isn't sufficient evidence to conclusively say tampering has occurredDecision time
The hearing is to be held over two days, behind closed doors and Madugalle has a maximum of 24 hours after it is over to adjudicate on both charges, which means a decision by Friday. However, the PCB can appeal on behalf of Inzamam and Malcolm Speed, ICC CEO, can do likewise on behalf of the ICC if either party is unhappy with the decision

Re: Exclusive Inzamam faces an ICC hearing at The Oval

______________________________
______________________________Inzamam decision expected on ThursdayThe first day of the ICC Code of Conduct hearing at The Oval ended late on Wednesday afternoon and it is now expected that a decision from Ranjan Madugalle, the ICC's chief referee, will be delivered sometime on Thursday. It had been thought that it might take almost two days to hear the evidence, but it seems that all that remains is for closing submissions to be put forward on Thursday morning and then for Madugalle to deliberate and announce his findings. Although he has 24 hours to consider all the evidence put before him, few expect Madugalle to take anywhere near that long.Cricinfo - Inzamam decision expected on Thursday
______________________________

Inzamam-ul-Haq leaves The Oval at the end of the first day of the ICC hearing, The Oval, September 27, 2006

Billy Doctrove and Darrell Hair leave The Oval after the first day of the hearing, The Oval, September 27, 2006

Re: Exclusive Inzamam faces an ICC hearing at The Oval

Summary of Ranjan Mudagalle's findingsBall-tamperingOn the first charge of ball-tampering under paragraph 2.9 of the Code, I find Mr ul-Haq not guilty. Having regard to the seriousness of the allegation of ball-tampering (it is an allegation of cheating), I am not satisfied on the balance of probabilities that there is sufficiently cogent evidence that the fielding team had taken action likely to interfere with the condition of the ball. In my judgment, the marks are as consistent with normal wear and tear of a match ball after 56 overs as they are with deliberate human intervention. Mr Saini (acting on behalf of the ICC) submitted that I should not reject the consistent views of the experienced ICC witnesses. I have considered their evidence, honestly and fairly given, very carefully. But my duty is to form and give my own judgment.Bringing the game into disreputeOn the second charge of bringing the game into disrepute by refusing to play, I find Mr ul-Haq guilty in that on two occasions he led a protest against the Umpires by failing to come onto the field of play at the relevant time. I take the view, subject of course to any further submissions Mr Gay may wish to make, that this is a Level 3 charge, leading to a penalty of a ban of between 2 and 4 Test Matches or between 4 and 8 ODI Matches. I will now hear Mr Gay (acting on behalf of the Pakistan Cricket Board) on any submissions you wish to make on the appropriate penalty.

Inzamam-ul-Haq arrives for the second day of the ICC hearing, The Oval, September 28, 2006Inzamam-ul-Haq and Shaharyar Khan in discussion ahead of the closing statementsA smiling Inzamam-ul-Haq leaves The Oval on the second day of the ICC hearing, The Oval, September 28, 2006

Inzamam himself told Pakistan TV: "The whole nation has supported our decision. This was a matter of respect for our team and country. We fought for what we thought was right. Team's reputation in the past hasn't been great and so this was important. It was important to register our protest becuase if we didn't then it wouldn't have gotten this far even and now it has been proved we are not guilty of ball tampering. This is a victory for Pakistan.

"I had an idea that I would face some sort of ban. This is the most lenient ban and I will not appeal against it."

"We are very satisfied," Shahriyar Khan, the PCB chairman, said as he left the ground. "We feel the whole process is very fair."

Abbas Zaidi, the PCB's director operations, told Cricinfo: "We have just been told that Inzamam and the Pakistan team have been acquitted of the ball tampering charges. This is excellent news for us as it vindicates our stance all along that we weren't guilty of ball tampering."

Inzamam has 24 hours to decide whether he wants to appeal. If he does not, the ban will rule him out of Pakistan's opening matches in the Champions Trophy in India

______________________________Bannnnnn very baddddddddddd /duhhh
lekin Ball tempring sey to free huwey na, thats also gr888
______________________________Inzy-Hair row ball may go publicLondon: The public may get a chance to view the infamous Oval ball which was not subjected to forensic investigation after all.The ball from the first forfeited Test ever in the 129-year history of the game has been locked in the London safe of Olswang, lawyers of the International Cricket Council."There should also be a chance for the public to view the now infamous ball from the first forfeited Test in history," The Times daily reported on Thursday. The newspaper also quoted an ICC spokesman as saying that photographs of the ball might be released soon

COMING SOON: Fans may get to see the highly controversial ball used during the Oval Test.

Karachi: Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq will not appeal against the four-match ban slapped on him by the International Cricket Council as he believed the verdict was fair and the punishment lenient.

______________________________PCB considers disrepute charge against HairShaharyar Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, has said that his board has not ruled out calling on the ICC to investigate Darrell Hair with a view to seeing if he should be charged with bringing the game into disrepute. "What we have done is to already ask the ICC [before the hearing] to investigate Mr Hair's conduct in the match for bringing the game into disrepute," he told the media in a press conference at The Oval. "All this we are seeing - the expense, lawyers, coming all the way from Pakistan - who is responsible?Cricinfo - PCB considers disrepute charge against Hair
______________________________

Ranjan Madugalle answers media questions at The Oval, September 28,Darrell Hair faces the media barrage at The Oval, The Oval, September 28Shahryar Khan addresses the media at The Oval, September 28

Re: Exclusive Inzamam faces an ICC hearing at The Oval

Umpires must not be allowed to play God - BoycottGeoffrey Boycott has lambasted Darrell Hair for attempting to "play God" in his handling of the forfeited fourth Test between England and Pakistan. Boycott, now a respected media commentator, also took a swipe at Hair over his failure to show any contrition after the ICC overruled his decision to call Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq for ball tampering. Cricinfo - Umpires must not be allowed to play God - Boycott